Apple TV Woes in New Zealand
Most Apple TV coverage has been U.S.-centric, but Sarah Hendrica Bickerton offers her perspective on the Apple TV as a New Zealander, and it’s not a sunny one. Bickerton reports that Siri and iTunes TV shows are not available, and even iTunes movie releases lag weeks behind the rest of the world. While Netflix is finally available in New Zealand, it doesn’t even offer the Netflix original series “House of Cards” due to muddy distribution rights. Despite all of that, Bickerton is bullish on the new Apple TV due to tvOS and its associated App Store. Her article is a welcome reminder of how technology often isn’t evenly distributed around the world.
More like it's a reminder of how media distribution agreements can interfere with the distribution and use of technology.
Probably applies to everywhere outside the US. It is not just Apple and its tv. There are lots of stuff that Apple sells that gives buyers a different and limited experience outside the US. It is easy to get the impression that Apple California doesn't know there are other parts to the world.
Apple TV in UK is also rather limited - where are the apps for Eurosport and medici.tv for example? Lots of films that don't interest me but poor sport and culture! Apple has along way to go before the words "Apple" and "TV" are really linked in the everyday world.
Apple should support these United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, the U.K, Australia, and New Zealand right out of the gate. Next it can add support for Western Europe, China, Japan, Korea. The third step would be the rest of Asia, South America, and Africa.
I agree with Sarah. The Kiwi media streaming environment is in its infancy and has a long way to go. Also Apple equipment is very expensive in this country. Result: I haven't bothered to upgrade.